St. Cecilia Chamber Choir will present its annual Lessons and Carols Christmas concerts on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Bowdoin College Chapel, 14 Campus Road N. in Brunswick, and Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. at Damariscotta Baptist Church, 4 Bristol Road. Linda Blanchard is St. Cecilia’s artistic director and conductor, assisted by organist and pianist Sean Fleming. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged for these popular concerts. "You were as good as ever!" "The whole thing was just beautiful!" "I’m so glad we came!" are a few of the audience comments from last year's December concerts.

A beautiful new setting of the 16th century text Balulalow by VOCES8 member Christopher Moore will be featured. Bob Chilcott's setting of "Good King Wenceslas" will be sung, as well as Richard Francis' perennially-popular "People, Look East" based on Eleanor Farjeon's Christmas poem. A favorite piece used for many Christmas concerts, Rutter's "King Jesus Hath A Garden," will be sung. A professional string quartet will accompany the group on select pieces. As a special treat, Eric Whitacre’s "Glow," written for the “World of Color – Winter Dreams” show which premiered at Disney California Adventure Park in California, will be performed. With audience sing-along caroling using several of David Willcocks' arrangements, this concert is sure to be a treat for the whole family.

Tickets are $25 for the Saturday Bowdoin Chapel concert and $20 for the Sunday, Damariscotta Baptist Church concert. Admission is free for students and those 18-and-under. Tickets are available at Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta, Treats in Wiscasset, and online at ceciliachoir.org.

For more information, please email info@ceciliachoir.org, visit facebook.com/stceciliachamberchoir and ceciliachoir.org, or call 207-380-2768.